Dear Editor,

Many of us go through our lives without much knowledge of or interaction with school administration. Students know about the principals, vice principals and secretaries, but they are often unaware of the school board and its role.

There are over 90,000 school board members across the United States, and school boards have existed long before the Department of Education. The work that school boards do is important because they act on behalf of the public. School boards oversee a wide range of academic, legal, and financial issues, from approving curriculum to hiring the superintendent. However, with the current public attention on schooling and education, there have been unprecedented protests, challenges, and involvement in school boards.

People are attending meetings upset about decisions related to books in school libraries. Others, who may not have children in the school district, are running for office to “protect” students from perceived threats like “critical race theory” and “gender ideology.” These actions are clearly politically motivated and do not serve the best interests of the students or staff.

School boards are deeply connected to their local communities, and it is crucial for them to work alongside other elected officials, as well as local employers, colleges, nonprofits, and others. It is important that school boards listen to the community and work to bridge the connection between schools and the community. It is the job of the school board to explain and advocate for the need for more funding, as well as to argue for state support for projects and renovations. This should not be a political matter. Board members should prioritize what is best for the students and staff and work with the community to meet those needs.

This is why it is vital for all members of the community to participate in elections. We should research the candidates and understand their positions. We need to know what they intend to do for the schools, and whether their proposals will benefit the students and staff.

I understand that, as college students, we may not fully grasp the importance of voting in school board elections because this isn’t our primary community outside the university. However, the money we pay in rent goes to the school district and the school board. The funds we contribute to the university support some of the events happening at the school.

We have classmates who hope to teach in the area, and our vote matters just as much. It’s something we should consider when looking down the ballot in the future. While the president and senators work for us and address big-picture issues, the school board decides if our classmates and friends are paid fairly, and whether high schools receive funding for important projects like new gymnasiums. Local elections matter—especially school board elections.

Sincerely,
Isabelle Emerson